Pillowcase turner and doffer



Nov. 10, 1936. H. D. LEARNARD ET AL PILLOWCASE TURNER AND DOFFER 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3

TT F inn hh WWW Nov. 10, 1936. H. D. LEARNARD ET AL PILLOWCASE TURNERAND DOFFER Filed Nov 3 1934 2 SheetSSh6et 2 Patented Nov. 10, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PILLOWCASE TURNER AND DOFFER ApplicationNovember 3, 1934, Serial No. 751,363

18 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for dofling and turning articlessuch as pillowcases and the like coming from the mangle.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of apillowcase doffer and turner that receives the hot pillowcases off themangle and automatically doffs them in reverse position upon a bar orother support from which the cases can be subsequently removed afterthey have cooled sufficiently to permit handling without personaldiscomfort.

Another object is the provision of a pillowcase doifing machine arrangedto pile or stack doffed pillowcases one upon the other in order tofacilitate subsequent handling thereof.

A further object is in an improved turning and dofling machine theoperation of which is controlled by the pillowcases handled by it insuch manner that the passage of a predetermined part of the pillowcasethrough a predetermined position effects the actuation of the turningmechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a turning anddoling machine wherein the pillowcases are advanced by belts over arecip-rocating turning frame, the reciprocation of which is governed bythe pillowcases, for dofling and turning the cases.

A further object is generally to improve the construction of pillowcaseturning and dofling machines.

Fig. l is a plan view partly broken away of a pillowcase turning anddofling machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating theposition of the parts just prior to the control of the parts to effectthe folding of the case.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the position of themechanism just after the holding lever for the pillowcases has beenmoved into operated position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of a slide for the turning frame.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the useof photoelectric instead of mechanical control mechanism.

The pillowcase turning and dofling machine embodying the presentinvention is adapted to be located at the delivery end of an ironingmachine or mangle to receive the freshly ironed pillow-l casesdischarged from the conveyor belt of the mangle and to advance them anddeposit them in reversed and folded condition in a convenient locationfor removal.

The machine comprises a generally rectangular 5 frame structure l0having at its top sets of front and rear brackets I2, a driving shaft l4being journalled in the rear brackets and a stationary shaft It beingfixed in the front brackets. The driving shaft M has a plurality ofpulleys 18 all of the same diameter fixed thereto and the shaft l6 has acorresponding plurality of idler pulleys 20 all of the same diameterjournalled thereon. Conveyor tapes or belts 22 are passed about therespective sets of driving and idler pulleys and the 15 horizontal upperpasses thereof are adapted to support and advance the pillowcases.

The machine is disposed close to the delivery end of an ironing machineor mangle with the driving shaft [4 close to and parallel with and gobelow a. shaft 24 of the mangle, which shaft supports belts 26 thatadvance the hot pillowcases from the ironing surfaces. The tapes 22 ofthe doffer are driven at approximately the linear speed of the tapes orbelts 26 of the mangle by a 5 driving belt 28 that connects the mangleshaft 24 with the dolfer shaft l 4. Press rolls 30 are superimposedabove certain of the tapes 22 on the idler rolls 20 and are heldyieldingly thereagainst by resilient rods 32 so as to hold thepillowcases from '30 movement with respect to the belts at times when asubstantial part of the length of a pillowcase overhangs the dischargeend of the conveyor system. A cover plate 34 preferably closelyunderlies the top passes of the tapes so as to pre- 35 vent thepillowcase from sagging between the tapes and also to shield themechanism thereunder.

The tapes of the doifer are grouped into right and left hand sections,as is indicated in Fig. 1, and each section is provided with the sameoperating mechanism. Each section is provided with a reciprocatingfolding frame which comprises a horizontal bar 36 disposed beneath thecover plate 34 between and transversely of the upper and lower passes ofthe tapes. The opposite ends of the bar are provided with cylindricalextensions 38, see especially Fig. 6, which are movable longitudinallyin the guide space 39 provided by upper and lower guide bars 40 and 42respectively, which guide bars at the ends are suitably supported bybrackets 43 attached to the frame of the machine. A plurality ofhorizontal rods 44 are located between the tapes 22 close under theupper passes thereof and have their inner ends fixed to the bar 36.

The outer or forward end portions of the rods are also curved in adownward direction and their extremities are connected by a cross rod46. The rods 44 are supported in horizontal position as they reciprocateby resting upon the faces of spacer discs 48 journalled on the forwardshaft l6 between the idler rolls 20.

The pillowcases discharged from the conveyor system are adapted to bedraped by the folding frame upon a horizontal cylindrical pillowcasereceiving bar 59 that is carried by the machine frame and is spacedforwardly thereof below the end of the folding frame. The bar,immediately thereunder is provided with a depending plate 52 thatseparates the folded sections of a pillowcase hanging on the bar andcooperates with a holding device, presently to be explained, to hold thepillowcase on the bar as the pillowcase is being draped across the bar.

The folding frame is adapted to be reciprocated in such manner that itsforward end moves between positions forwardly and rearwardly of the bar50 while above the bar. The folding frame is reciprocated by mechanismthat includes a lever structure comprising a horizontal cross bar 54pivoted to the frame under the tapes and having adjacent its ends andrigid therewith a pair of upstanding arms 56 which are pivotallyconnected through links 58 with the slide bar 36 of the folding frame.The cross bar 54 is also provided at the middle thereof with arearwardly extended arm 66 that is pivotally connected through a link 62with the plunger 64 of a solenoid 66, the solenoid being suitablysupported by a frame member 68 and preferably being mounted for verticaladjustment thereon. With this arrangement it is apparent that when thesolenoid is energized the folding frame is caused to be retracted ormoved towards the left. The folding frame is normally maintained in anadvanced position by a weight 16 that is adjustably screw-threaded onthe forward end of an arm 12 rigid with the cross bar 54 of theoperating mechanism, the mass of the weight being such that when thesolenoid is de-energized it rotates the cross bar 54 in a clockwisedirection and thus effects the advance of the folding frame, the fullyadvanced position of the frame being defined by the engagement of thecylindrical ends 38 of the slide bar 36 with the supports 43 for theguide bars 40 and 42. The retracted position of the folding frame issuitably defined by the engagement of the plunger 64 with the bottom ofthe solenoid.

The energization of the solenoid, in all figures except Fig. '7, iscontrolled by a gravity-opened switch having a pivoted freely-movingblade 14 which is movable into and out of engagement with a stationarycontact member 13, the circuit between the solenoid, switch and powersource being obvious. The switch blade 14 is provided with a lightupwardly-extended feeler arm 18 that projects through a slot in thecover located approximately midway between the front and rear shafts ISand E4 and also approximately midway between the belt passes of the beltgroup with which it is associated. The position of the upper end of thefeeler arm with respect to the length of the belts, is determined by thelength of the pillowcases conveyed by the belts. The feeler arm in theopen position of the switch projects slightly above the top passes ofthe belts or tapes and is adapted to be depressed by engagement with apillowcase to close the switch and energize the solenoid and therebyeffect the retraction of the folding frame and also to hold the solenoidenergized and the frame retracted so long as there is a pillowcase inengagement with the feeler arm.

The operation of the device is essentially as illustrated in Figs. 2, 4,and 5. A pillowcase A is delivered from the belts 26 of the mangleontothe upper passes of the tapes 22 and the tapes advance thepillowcase at approximately the speed of the belts of the mangle. Whenthe forward edge of the pillowcase engages the feeler arm I8 itdepresses the feeler arm and thereby closes the switch and energizes thesolenoid. The folding frame is thus retracted to the positionillustrated in Fig. 4. The pillowcase advances and the forward endthereof passes off the tapes and over the forward edge of the foldingframe and down into the space between the front part of the machinestructure and the bar 50. When the trailing edge of the pillowcaseadvances beyond the feeler arm the arm rises by the weight of itsassociated parts and the switch opens thereby deenergizing the solenoid.The weight 18 then advances the folding frame to the forward positionillustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the forward end of the folding frame isdisposed above and forwardly of the bar 50. This advancing movement ofthe folding frame carries the depending part of the pillowcase forwardlyagainst and the upper depending part across the bar 50, the pillowcasebeing held by the press roll 30 from being drawn forwardly on the tapesfaster than the movement of the tapes by the unsupported leading endportion of the pillowcase. The continued advance of the tapes and thepillowcase causes the case to be fed downwardly in front of the bar 59so that when the pillowcase is finally released from the tapes its rearportion will overhang the bar on the forward side thereof. During thefolding operation the pillowcase obviously is turned so that the upperface thereof is on the inside of the fold. The operation is repeatedwith succeeding pillowcases. The heated surface of the pillowcase, whichis uppermost on the conveyor tapes, is thus in the inside of the foldedcase on the bar 50, so that the cooler face can be handled by anoperative in removing it from the bar. The arrangement also permits thecase to remain on the bar sufhciently long to become cool enough forhandling before an operative need remove them. It is sometimesadvantageous to allow a pile of superposed pillowcases, one lying uponthe other,

to collect upon the bar in order to facilitate the handling thereof.

Mechanism is provided for clamping the pillowcase to the bar as the rearpart of the pillowcase is being draped over the bar. Said mechanismincludes a lever 82 pivoted at 84 to the frame of the machine and havinga forward and downwardly inclined clamping finger 86 that confronts theplate 52 of the bar 50. The inner end 238 of the lever 82 is relativelymassive so that it functions as a weight when the lever is free to swingin a counterclockwise direction, to advance the lower end of the fingerforwardly and hold it sufiiciently firmly against a pillowcase overlyingon the plate 52 to prevent movement of the pillowcase.

The operation of the lever 82 is controlled by the operation of thefolding frame. The lever 82 is disposed above the arm T2 of thereciprocating mechanism for the folding frame. Said arm carries anupward extension 90 terminated in a roller 92 that is adapted to bearagainst the lower face of the lever 82. When the solenoid is energizedthe lever 82 is held in an unoperated position by the roller asindicated in Fig. 4. In

this position the clamping finger is distant from the bar-plate so thata pillowcase can pass between it and the bar. When, however, thesolenoid is de-energized the roller 92 moves free from the lever and theweighted end of the lever causes the finger 86 to move outwardly intoholding engagement with the pillowcase. The arrangement is such that thelever 82 moves into operative or holding position at the first part ofthe operating movement of the frame operating mechanism and before theforward end of the folding frame has passed across the bar 50.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. '7 the feeler switch of theprevious modification is replaced by a photoelectric device. In thismodification a light source 94 is supported on a suitable bracket 96above the top passes of the conveyor tapes to. direct its beam of lightbetween two of the tapes and through an aperture 98 in the top plate34a. It is apparent, of course, that the beam of light will beintercepted by a pillowcase advancing on the tapes. The beam of light isdirected into a case I08 containing a photoelectric cell and a relay,neither of which need be illustrated as they are now common in the art.Normally the light from the light source activates the photoelectriccell to energize the associated relay thereby holding open the contactsthereof and maintaining the circuit of the solenoid 65 open. When,however, a pillowcase passes under the light source and intercepts thelight beam the photoelectric cell and its associated relay aredeenergized and the relay consequently closes the circuit for thesolenoid. The action of the device in operating the reciprocating frameis the same as has been described with the feeler-controlled switch ofthe first modification.

We claim:

1. A pillowcase doffing system comprising a conveyor belt system onwhich the pillowcases are supported and advanced, a delivery bardisposed below and forwardly of the forward end of said belt system, areciprocating frame for draping the pillowcases upon said bar, saidframe being disposed behind and under the pillowcases as they pass fromsaid conveyor and being reciprocable into positions respectivelyrearwardly and forwardly of said bar, and means controlled by thepillowcases on said conveyor for effecting reciprocation of said frame.

2. A pillowcase doifmg machine comprising a conveyor system on which thefreshly ironed pillowcases are conveyed and advanced, a support for thepillowcases discharged from said system, said support being disposedunder and crosswise of the line of advance of the pillowcases on saidconveyor system, a reciprocating frame for turning the pillowcases, saidframe being above said support, means for supporting said frame forreciprocatory movement crosswise of said support, and means controlledby the pillowcases on said conveyor system for governing thereciprocation of said frame.

3. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor belts on which the pillowcases are supported and advancedpassed about said pulleys, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys and crosswise of said belts, a frame having a forwardmember which underlies and is adapted to engage the pillowcase as itpasses from the belts and is above said bar, said forward member of saidframe being advanceable from a position rearwardly of said delivery barto a position forwardly thereof for moving a part of a pillowcase acrosssaid bar, said frame having means which supports that part of thepillowcase that is between said forward member and said belts during theadvance of said frame, and means for reciprocating said frame.

4. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor belts on which the pillowcases are supported and advancedpassed about said pulleys, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys and crosswise of said belts, a frame having a forwardmember which underlies and is adapted to engage the pillowcase as itpasses from the belts and is above said bar, said forward end of saidframe being advanceable from a position rearwardly of said delivery barto apositio-n forwardly thereof for moving a part of a pillowcase acrosssaid bar, said frame having means which supports that part of thepillowcase that is between said forward member and said belts during theadvance of said frame, and means controlled by the pillowcase on saidbelts for controlling the reciprocation of said frame.

5. Pillowcase dofiing mechanism comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor tapes passed about said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and advanced, a delivery bar disposed below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys, a reciprocating frame which closely underlies saidtapes and has a forward part which is disposed above said delivery barand is reciprocable between positions respectively rearwardly andforwardly thereof, said frame having rearwardly extended members whichunderlie and provides support for the pillowcases forwardly of saidtapes during the reciprocation of said frame, and means forreciprocating said frame.

6. A pillowcase dofiing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor belts passed about said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and advanced, 'a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys, a reciprocating frame comprising a series ofhorizontal rods disposed between said tapes closely under the upperpasses thereof and having forward ends which are reciprocable intopositions respectively rearwardly and forwardly of said delivery bar fordraping the pillowcases upon said bar, and means for reciprocating saidframe.

7. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor belts passed about said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and advanced, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys, a reciprocating frame comprising a series ofhorizontal rods disposed between said tapes closely under the upperpasses thereof and having forward ends which are reciprocable intopositions respectively rearwardly and forwardly of said delivery bar fordraping the pillowcases upon said bar, means for reciprocating saidframe including an electromagnet, a lever system pivotally connectedwith said frame and at one end with said electromagnet, and a weight atthe other end of said lever system whereby said electromagnet and weightcan move said frame alternately in opposite directions.

8. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor tapes passed about said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and advanced, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys, a horizontal frame disposed below the top passes ofsaid tapes and above said bar, said frame being reciprocable to positionthe forward part thereof alternately into positions rearwardly andforwardly of said bar, weight operated means for advancing said frame,electromagnetic means for retracting said frame and holding it inretracted position, and means responsive to the passage of pillowcaseson said conveyor tapes for controlling the energization of saidelectromagnet.

9. A pillowcase dofiing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor tapes passed about said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and advanced, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys, a horizontal frame disposed below the top passes ofsaid tapes and above said bar, said frame being reciprocable to positionthe forward part thereof alternately into positions rearwardly andforwardly of said bar, electromagnetic means for retracting said frameand holding it in retracted position, weight operated means foradvancing said frame when said frame is released for movement byde-energization of said electromagnetic means, and means governed by thepillowcases on said conveyor tapes for controlling the energization ofsaid electromagnet.

10. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor tapes passed about said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and advanced, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys, a horizontal frame disposed below the top passes ofsaid tapes and above said bar, said frame being reciprocable to positionthe forward part thereof alternately into positions rearwardly andforwardly of said bar, electromagnetic means for retracting said frameand holding it in retracted position, weight operated means foradvancing said frame when permitted by the de-energization of saidelectromagnetic means, means governed by the pillowcases on saidconveyor tapes for controlling the energization of said electromagnet,said means comprising a switch for the circuit of said electromagnet,and a switch-operating feeler arm disposed in the path of movement ofthe pillowcases on said conveyor belts and arranged to be depressed bythe passage of a pillowcase thereover.

11. A pillowcase dofting machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor belts passed around said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and conveyed, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys on which the pillowcases are adapted to be draped, areciprocable frame having a part that is engageable with the forwardfree parts of the pillowcases and is reciprocable across said bar fordraping the pillowcases upon said delivery bar, electromagnetic meansfor effecting the retraction of said folding frame, and weight operatedmeans for effecting the advance of said folding frame.

12. A pillowcase dofiing machine comprising front and rear pulleys,conveyor belts passed around said pulleys on which the pillowcases aresupported and conveyed, a delivery bar located below and forwardly ofsaid front pulleys on which the pillowcases are adapted to be draped, areciprocable frame having a part that is engageable with the forwardfree parts of the pillowcases and is reciprocable across said bar fordraping the pillowcases on said delivery bar, electromagnetic means foreffecting the retraction of said folding frame, weight operated meansfor effecting the advance of said folding frame, and. means governed bythe pillowcase on said belts for effecting the control of saidelectromagnet.

13. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising a conveyor belt system onwhich the pillowcases are supported and conveyed, a delivery bar locatedbelow and forwardly of said conveyor system, means including areciprocating frame having a part that is engageable with thepillowcases and is reciprocable backwardly and forwardly of saiddelivery bar for draping the pillowcases on said delivery bar, and meansfor holding the pillowcases engaged with said bar during the drapingoperation of said reciprocating frame.

14. A pillowcase dofiing machine comprising a conveyor belt system onwhich the pillowcases are supported and conveyed, a delivery bar locatedbelow and forwardly of said conveyor system, means including areciprocating frame having a part that is engageable with thepillowcases and is reciprocable backwardly and forwardly of saiddelivery bar for draping the pillowcases on said delivery bar, means forholding the pillowcases engaged with said bar during the drapingoperation of said reciprocating frame, comprising a lever having aclamping foot movable into a position wherein it clamps the pillowcaseupon said bar, and means responsive to the movement of said frame foreffecting the operation of said lever.

15. A pillowcase dofiing machine comprising a conveyor belt system onwhich the pillowcases are supported and conveyed, a delivery bar locatedbelow and forwardly of said conveyor system, means including areciprocating frame having a part that is engageable with thepillowcases and is reciprocable backwardly and forwardly of saiddelivery bar for draping the pillowcases on said delivery bar, means forholding the pillowcases engaged with said bar during the drapingoperation of said reciprocating frame, comprising a lever having aclamping foot movable into a position wherein it clamps the pillowcaseupon said bar, and operating mechanism for effecting the reciprocationof said reciprocating frame and also of said lever.

16. A pillowcase dofling machine comprising a conveyor belt system onwhich the pillowcases are supported and conveyed, a delivery bar locatedbelow and forwardly of said conveyor system, means including areciprocating frame having a part that is engageable with thepillowcases and is reciprocable backwardly and forwardly of saiddelivery bar for draping the pillowcases on said delivery bar, means forholding the pillowcases engaged with said bar during the drapingoperation of said reciprocating frame, comprising a lever having aclamping foot movable into a position wherein it clamps the pillowcaseupon said bar, and operating mechanism for said reciprocating frame andlever comprising a lever member reciprocable with said frame having apart movable into and out of engagement with said clamping lever.

17. A pillowcase dofiing machine comprising a conveyor system on whichthe pillowcases are supported and conveyed, a delivery bar located belowand forwardly of said conveyor system, a reciprocating frame having apart that is engageable with the pillowcases and is reciprocablebackwardly and forwardly of said delivery bar for draping thepillowcases delivered from said conveyor system upon said bar, aclamping lever for clamping the pillowcases against said bar during thedraping operation, and means for effecting movement of said clampinglever into clamping position prior to the effective draping movement ofsaid folding frame.

18. A pillowcase doffing machine comprising a supporting frame'havingfront and rear pulleys, horizontal conveyor belts passed about saidpulleys on which the pillowcases are supported and advanced, a deliverybar located below and forwardly of said front pulleys, a reciprocatingframe comprising a transverse bar disposed transversely of and below thetop passes of said conveyor belts, means providing guide ways in whichthe ends of said bar reciprocate, a series of parallel horizontal rodsconnected with said bar and disposed beneath and close to and betweenthe upper passes of said belts and extended forwardly of said frontpulleys, said frame being reciprocable between positions wherein theforward ends of said rods are respectively rearwardly and forwardly ofsaid delivery bar, a lever system connected with said frame forreciprocating it, means including a solenoid connected with said leversystem for reciprocating said folding frame in one direction, a weightassociated with said lever system for reciprocating said frame in theopposite direction, and means governed by the pillowcases on said beltsfor controlling the energiza- 10 tion of said solenoid.

HARRY D. LEARNARD. HERBERT R. MATHEWSON.

